Hammond is making an interesting point today: he is saying that the leaflets etc before the referendum all talked about getting a good deal when we leave the EU. Consequently leaving with no deal is betraying the referendum vote.

Offhand, I cannot remember any information issued before the referendum promoting no deal, but perhaps others have better memory than me. Can someone link to some official documentation from before the referendum vote favouring no deal?

Apropos my post above. It is significant that the £83K donation mentioned above translates to 100,000 euros using the exchange rate of the time. An unusual figure for a UK origin, but perfectly understandable for an EU origin.

Well once again, Nigel you can only see typos and not information. Perhaps you would like to comment on whether you think the Telegraph's omission of those parties (unlike, say, the BBC's poll of polls) is a fair representation of the current voting intentions?

Such a shame the comment you responded to, which I believe contained nothing in the least offensive, has been deleted. There seems to be a lot being deleted for no reason recently.

However, in responding to criticism of the Brexit Party’s donations policy by drawing attention to the donations policy of People’s Vote, you clearly were attempting to draw a parallel. I simply pointed out that the parallel to which you alluded doesn’t exist

Oh Yes it does!

Peoples vote website we are registered with, and regulated by, the Electoral Commission during this period. This means that donations over £500 have to be verified as permissible, and those over £7,500 published by the Electoral Commission, as required by law. As is the Brexit Party In an election period the rules become even more stringent.

As people's vote is a pressure group I wonder if the electoral commissioners will investigate them to see how much funding is of foreign(EU)origin? After all they had a huge donation from a pharmaceutical company representing nearly 30% of it's annual profit. However the EU parent company is worth billions.

Well once again, Nigel you can only see typos and not information. Perhaps you would like to comment on whether you think the Telegraph's omission of those parties (unlike, say, the BBC's poll of polls) is a fair representation of the current voting intentions?

"A REMINDER of WHO THE BREXIT PARTY ACTUALLY IS AND IT'S COLOURFUL HISTORY " It is actually not a party - it is a one-policy and no constitution It has no members - only paying supporters, so it cannot even claim to be a democratic organisation It is, in fact, capitalising on the farcical situation created by a sulky group who, by playing on the prejudices of the British people. An examination of its SISTER PARTY will show how The Brexit Party has its roots in the Extremist Right goroups that have sprung up in Europe - many of whom have died the death of all crank parties

As far as the European Election results are concerned, as the UK vote has never exceeded 40%, any result can hardly be claimed as a victory Jim Carroll

Nobody has said that you said ‘People’s Vote’ is a political party. However, in responding to criticism of the Brexit Party’s donations policy by drawing attention to the donations policy of People’s Vote, you clearly were attempting to draw a parallel. I simply pointed out that the parallel to which you alluded doesn’t exist.

It’s really not difficult. But apparently too difficult for you. No surprise there.

A stunning graph showing the brexit party gains since the local coucil elections. If accurate the day the EU election results are announced will be a fine popcorn evening of celebration.

Even worse for remainiacs "The Brexit Party has seen support soar in the aftermath of Theresa May agreeing to an extension of the Brexit deadline with the European Union, with a YouGov poll of 2,212 voters conducted between May 8-9 showing 34 percent of those surveyed would cast their vote in favour of the newborn party. Mr Portillo suggested Britons could again opt to take their vote away from historical parties during a General Election." Farage for PM?

Like the Guardian, Alastair Campbell’s ‘People’s Vote’ is not a registered political party, and therefore is not subject to the rules that apply to registered political parties with regard to donations.

Like the Guardian, Alastair Campbell’s ‘’People’s Vote’ is not a registered political party, and therefore is not subject to the rules that apply to registered political parties with regard to donations.

"It should be noted that Alastair Campbell’s People’s Vote welcomes offshore donations:" Oooo good - it means he can ask Dyson the Deserter and Lord Snooty for a donationSPEAKING OF WHICH Reckoned to be the worst book on British history ever - even worse than Churchill's 'Boys Own' account of the exploits of Empire Jim Carroll

"It should be noted that Alastair Campbell’s People’s Vote welcomes offshore donations:" Oooo good - it means he can ask Dyson the Deserter and Lord Snooty for a donationSPEAKING OF WHICH Reckoned to be the worst book on British history ever - even worse than Churchill's 'Boys Own' account of the exploits of Empire Jim Carroll

From the Electoral Commissioners: Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA), there are controls on which donations a political party can accept. These controls apply to parties that are registered in Great Britain. Certain donations must be recorded and reported to us. We publish these reports in a register on our website.

Who receives donations? Donations are made to registered political parties and accounting units (sections of a party whose finances aren’t managed directly by a party’s headquarters). Parties must appoint someone to be registered with us as their treasurer. The registered treasurer is responsible for making sure that the party follows the rules on donations. This includes maintaining suitable systems within the party to ensure donations are dealt with correctly. What is a donation? A donation is money, goods or services given to a party without charge or on non-commercial terms, with a value of over £500. Some examples of donations include: •A gift of money or other property. •Sponsorship of an event or publication. •Subscription or affiliation payments. •Free or specially discounted use of an office. Under PPERA, anything with a value of £500 or less is not a donation.

It should be noted that Alastair Campbell’s People’s Vote welcomes offshore donations:

Quite so, Backwoodsman. Paypal is important because in makes tracing sources of funding harder. There are legal constraints on that for political parties that do not apply to newspapers.

I'd appreciate views on the second point I made, though. If there was evidence of funding irregularities, would any Brexiteer care? I don't think they would. And if it was proven to the point the Brexit Party was prohibited from the EU elections, behind the bluster of protest Farage would love it, because it would give him a really strong card to play come the general election "Look how the elites treated you over the EU elections ..."

There are some very interesting things occurring just before the voting occurs in the EU elections. 1)A false story about Farage running away from a RTA. 2)Noises being made about an enquiry into TBP funding arrangements. 3) The as yet unregistered anti brexit "Led by Donkeys" campaign forced to take down a gay bashing poster, amid strong rumours they have breached their spending limits. 4)Labour is haemorrhaging remain voters to the Lib Dems because of ambiguity on Labour's brexit position. 5)Uncertainty as to how much of the LIBDEM vote in the local council elections was a protest vote. This could produce even more support for brexit.

I predict more attempted character assassination of Farage in the next couple of days in order to sabotage the brexit vote. This could backfire of course as brexiteers are both sophisticated and canny and can easily see through such subterfuge.

That there is a concern that funding is not being declared is obvious - it seems you can pay up to £500 on their website and it does not need to be declared. And this can come via Paypal. If I wished to make a £50,000 donation, it looks as if I just need to make a lot of small donations of less than £500 a time. If the worst comes to the worst, I might need to set up a hundred separate Paypal accounts, which would be no problem these days. My own website has an email system where unrecognised email addresses are automatically redirected to a single one internally, so giving Paypal one hundred different emails would be easy for my, never mind a state or large interested party.

Of course, the Brexit Party supporters would say either 'fake news', or 'they would say that, wouldn't they?' or both. After all, it is fair to say a possibility of corruption is a long way it existing and then proving it.

But I think we are at a worse stage. If it were to be proved today that the Brexit Party was getting illegal funding - and I am not saying it is - I think its supporters would not care. Banning it from the elections for breaching the rules could cause rioting, I think. And come the general elections, a new Child of Brexit with entirely legitimate funding could sweep the board.

I don't it will bother many Brexiteers, though. It was a long time ago, and anyway since she would have to sign a withdrawal agreement, some have already said the Queen would be committing treason if she did so.

Reporting back that the RemainUinted.org website did predict between 22 and 25 seats out of 70 for the Brexit Party, so the estimate *is* out there in the ether. However, as that is based on polling between 1-7 May, there may be a more up to date estimate.

For comparison, Farage and UKIP currently have 22, so getting 22 or below seats could not be claimed as a triumph. One or two more is stretching it to call it a triumph. Over 27 I will allow gloating without demur!

No bluster from me, simply facts, logic, and rational argument which others are able to understand, but which seem to be far, far beyond your intellect.

And as regards ‘insults’, coming from the most aggressive, abusive, insulting poster on this thread, or any other thread you decide to stink up with your presence (there’s evidence a-plenty on this forum), words like ‘pot’, ‘kettle’, and ‘black’ spring to mind. You’re fooling nobody but yourself.

When insults and bluster replace rational argument I think game, set, match to me(and all those righteous citizens that kicked both tory and labour councilors into touch in the recent elections) Further proof will come from the EU elections where conservative estimates give the brexit party one third of the seats. We will see then who are the wobble headed, loonies and delusional.

And again, you indicate your complete ignorance of what Parliamentary Representative Democracy actually is. It is a clearly defined system - no amount of wishful-thinking on the part of Right-Wing Extremists like you, and delusional BrexShit-Bumpkins will make it anything other than what it is.

You’re absolutely correct, of course, David, and it’s a fact that’s been ignored or misunderstood - probably deliberately - that an MP’s responsibility is not to obey their electorate’s wishes, it is to do what they - the MPs - believe is in the best interests of the country as a whole. That is Parliamentary Democracy.

Sadly, that seems to be a concept far too difficult for The Brain-washed and The Brainless to understand.

”Democracy in our country is Parliamentary democracy. And out members of Parliament are obliged to act in their constituents' interests. Not in accordance with a flawed and corrupt referendum.”

You’re absolutely correct, of course, David, and it’s a fact that’s been not to obey their electorate’s wishes, it is to do what they - the MPs - believe is in the best interests of the country as a whole. That is Parliamentary Democracy.

Sadly, that seems to be a concept far too difficult for The Brain-washed and The Brainless to understand.

"No one would conclude the rise of Nazi Germany was a good outcome. You - by claiming that the vote is the be all and end all, said exactly that Just as the majority voted for Brexit the majority in Germany voted for nazism It takes a special kind of stupidity to claim that is you vote for Brexit than that decision must be adhered to yet, if you vote Labour, you are "dangerous" You missed out big time when they handed out joined-up thinking, didn't you

When have they ever done that - and not just "in the constituents interest", by the way - a nationally elected Government is committed to act in the est interests of the country as a whole What suits the South Eastern "soft underbelly of Britain" may not be i the interests of the impoverished North, as is now evident Jim Carroll

”Had the outcome of the referendum have been implemented your request for a second vote might have merit(given a suitable time period elapsing) However the last vote from June 2016 has yet to be accepted and acted on, so calls for a further vote are an affront to democracy.”

Since the Referendum, it has become patently obvious to all except the most blinkered Right-Wing-Extremist anal-sphincter-lickers, that leaving the EU is far from being the ‘easy’ process that the ‘Leave’ Campaign Echo-Chamber trumpeted it would be, that myriad facts have come to light since the Referendum, and that there will be long-lasting damage caused by leaving - possibly as long as fifty years according to arch-Brexiteer Rees-Mogg.

Only the brain-washed or brain-less would regard the idea of giving the electorate a chance to vote in order to either confirm their original wish, or indicate that, in view of the huge amount of information that has become available since the Referendum, they wish now to change their minds, as being ‘un-democratic’.

Anyone enfranchised can vote. Democracy requires that the outcome is respected. Whether the outcome is positive or negative depends upon the respective person's viewpoint. No one would conclude the rise of Nazi Germany was a good outcome.

Decisions made by Democratically elected governments are not always good ones.

The Iraqi war was based on mythical weapons of mass destruction, thanks to Blair. THe events surrounding the mysterious death of Dr Kelly tar the labour government of the time with a rather unsavoury brush.

A leaked report from the OPCW tells a very different story to the one given for public consumption concerning the gassing at Douma and justification for the subsequent bombing campaign in Syria.

The 2016 referendum result has still to be implemented because of deliberate stalling by the elected government in direct opposition to the mandate of the people.

It is obvious that democracy has flaws. As yet nothing better has been found as a substitute. Many posting here make it very clear they would blatantly ignore the vote if the outcome did not suit their expectations. A very scary precedent they are advocating! They show the same contempt for the electorate as Parliament. Hence the rise of Brexit. The majority will prevail - Get used to it!

"It is simply recognising that for all its benefits it has flaws" The populism sch as that being spoute by this clown (manipulated democracy) is an example of just that which is why extremists such as the present incumbent leap on it as a method to push though policies tht are obviously flawed Come the time that Brexit fulfils its promise as the stupid move it obviously is, the establishment will have the perfect 'get out of jail free' card - nuffin' to do with us - it was the 'People's Choice' Parliamentary 'Democracy' has never been democratic and has had its day - nobody takes politicians seriously Now we are faced with the scummy rabble rousers and hate merchants Jim

There you have it Rag - the people's voice is only important when it coincides with his own - elect Farage and your say is important, elect a labour Government and you become "dangerous" Now wasn't that worth the effort getting him to confess ? He really isn't very good at this - people who feel the need to threaten and bully never are Had my fun for the day, I think Jim

So when the German people elected Hitler or the Hungarians elect Orban, or if the French elect LePen, it doesn't matter what follows I wonder why you omitted the US President TRUMP? Does he not count as he was allegedly put in place by pesky Russian collusion?

How many times has democracy elected a labour government? The ultimate example of Lords of misrule!

So which is nearer the 'ultimate' lord of misrule - Hitler or a Labour government? Are you really saying, 'on balance, Labour'? I think you could be accused of anti-Semitism if you do.

Democracy is flawed, particularly with a FPTP voting system. One of its flaws is that sometimes power is given to very dangerous people, like those Jim mentioned. Voting for a party with no declared policies increases that risk. Ok, let's imagine the Brexit Party were to be elected with Farage as PM. On day one, he writes to the EU: "That's it, we leave with immediate effect". Done what he was elected to do. His supporters are presumably happy.

Now what does he do from day 2 for the rest of another 5 years? No one has been told yet. And, importantly, his supporters are not even willing to think about it.

So when the German people elected Hitler or the Hungarians elect Orban, or if the French elect LePen, it doesn't matter what follows I wonder why you omitted the US President TRUMP? Does he not count as he was allegedly put in place by pesky Russian collusion?

How many times has democracy elected a labour government? The ultimate example of Lords of misrule!

I assume from your post you do not believe in the democratic vote, because people might vote the wrong way.

Thank God you are exiled in a place where you can do no damage!People like you are dangerous.

It does not seem unreasonable given the above that we should have another vote as to whether we should leave the EU.

Had the outcome of the referendum have been implemented your request for a second vote might have merit(given a suitable time period elapsing) However the last vote from June 2016 has yet to be accepted and acted on, so calls for a further vote are an affront to democracy.

The government intransigence has required last minute canvassing for the upcoming EU elections. This was an event that the UK should not have been a participant in, but will give a very clear indicative vote of where people stand on brexit.

Latest polling suggests the Brexit party is still gathering support. This support is not just from brexiteers but a large contingent of people see the Brexit party as the only one that supports democratic principles. For these fine people principle is far more important than ideology and democracy must be supported.

"The only significant thing to be concerned about is the outcome from the ballot box where people can exert their democratic vote." So when the German people elected Hitler or the Hungarians elect Orban, or if the French elect LePen, it doesn't matter what follows What an ugly outlook on life Why don't you surprise me ? Jim Carroll